Vacuum breaker



Oct. s, 1936. H, F 2,056,357

VACUUM BREAKER Filed May 9, 1936 Fla-1T INVENTOR I HENRY J. LUFF Patented on. a, 1936 PATENT OFFIC 2,050,356 vacuum Burma Henry I. Luff, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Mary A. M. Luil', Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application May 9, 1936, Serial No. 78,771

G Claims. (Cl.137-111) This invention relates to vacuum breakers such as are adapted to function in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve in the line, to prevent back siphonage of waste water from the fixture into the line, as should a vacuum occur in the line coincident with an" overflow condition in the fixture.

My Patent 2,023,178 of December 3, 1935, shows such a vacuum breaker characterized by nozzle means disposed within vented pipe means to provide a main stream for flushing water, and a vented auxiliary stream having distribution thereabout and arranged in parallel relation with it; the main stream, that is separating from the main stream above the vent in the pipe means and ret rnin to co o with the in stream below the vent.

My Patent No. 2,045,479 issued June 23, 1936, no shows improvements in vacuum breakers of the type disclosed in my said patent, such improve ments including means providing for adjustment of the size of the auxiliary stream, and conse.

uently oi the relation between main and auxas iliary streams. Factors determining the proper relation between themain and-auxiliary passages, are principally normal pressure in the supply line and the amount of vacuum which might occur in the line, as determined for example by the so elevation of the breaker above the inlet of the line. Means for such control is characterized by provision for selective employment in the breaker assembly, of nozzle means of theproper capacity, and for adjustment of the nozzle means inthe 35 assembly relative to a member cooperative with the nozzle means to restrict the auxiliary passage. The structure employed for the purpose provides a straight through main passage and a relatively small and devious generally annular auxiliary 40 passage.

As also shown in my said application, a Venturi restriction is preferably provided in the pipe means for the purpose of assisting the main stream to induce flushing flow of the auxiliary ,45 stream, and it is desirable that such Venturi restriction be of capacity corresponding with that of the nozzle means.

The present invention constitutes generally fur-. ther improvements in vacuum breakers oi the 50 character described, and more particularly, provision of means preventing. obstruction of the auxiliary passage by accumulations of sand or like matter entrained in the supply stream, provision for more convenient mounting of the selected 55 nozzle means in the breaker assembly, provision of a sub-assembly oi the nozzle means and its immediately cooperative auxiliary passage controlling member as a unit, provision iorselective employment of Venturi restriction corresponding to the selected nozzle means, and withal asimpler 5 construction.

The exact nature oi this invention together with further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in l which Fig. '1 is a typical sectional elevation as in the longitudinal plane of line 1l, Fig. 2, of a breaker constructed in accordance with this invention, parts between which the breaker is connected being indicated in broken lines, flushing water flow being indicated by arrows, and air flow as in emergency conditions being indicated by broken arrows; and Fig. 2 is a transverse section as in the plane of line 2-2, Fig. 1.

With reference now to the drawing, the m: breaker comprises pipe means generally indicated at l, vertically disposed, having connection at its upper end with a flush water supply line to be subject to a flush valve, as conventionally indicated at A, and at its lower end having connection to a closet or like plumbingfixture by means conventionally indicated at B. More particularlythe pipe means is constructed as-here shown, of two principal parts, a tubular part is,

to the upper end of which. is brazed or otherwise permanently secured ahead part lb, the latter being internally threaded as indicated, for its supply connection with the member A. The head is suitably deformed, as hexagonally, at Id as indicated in the drawing, to accommodate a 36 wrench for makingthe connection with the member A.

The pipe means is provided with a. slight internal projection to which may be annular as indicated, and which forms av shouldered recess 40 within which an annular sleeve generally indicated at 2 may seat. The sleeve 2 has an offset portion 2a forming a shoulder against which a gasket A seats, the gasket being located at the end oi! the member A so that the sleeve 2 isflrmly secured in its illustrated position at the inlet end of the vacuum breaker by the connection of the latter with the supply member A.

The lower part of the sleeve 2, is internally threaded to receive a flange part 3a of the nozzle means generally indicated'at 3. The nozzle flares outwardly as at 3b as it extends above theflange part to, and extends cylindrically below the flange part 3a as at 30, the part 30 being permanently secured to the part 3b as by brazing at the shown threaded connection between these parts. The flange part is of the nozzle is per- :lorate as by a number of openings 3d circumierentially disposed about and closely adjacent the part 30.

The upper portion of the sleeve 2 fits within the supply member A and is provided with an annular internal lip 2b overhanging the periphery of the inlet end part 3b of the nozzle, and preferably chamiered as indicated to minimize "its obstruction to flow.

The pipe means I is provided with vent openings le adjacent the nozzle 3 and the nozzle is provided with deformations accessible through the vent openings le by which a rotational adjustment oi the, nozzle in the sleeve 2 may be had. Such deformations are here shown as circumferentially spaced pins 3e brazed or otherwise permanently secured in the fiange part 3a of the nozzle, and projecting downwardly therefrom into the zone or the vent openings of the pipe means.

The head part lb of the pipe means is externally threaded to receive an annular skirt l) arranged to overhang and thus conceal and protect the vent openings le. A Venturi restriction lg is provided within the pipe means below the nozzle means as indicated, the pipe means preterably converging as shown to provide a locating seat for the restriction lo. The restriction lg may have brazed connection with the pipe part la or it may be positioned merely by its seat therein so as to be conveniently removable for replacement by a diflferent size if desired.

As to operation, it will be apparent that during the flushing period the breaker being supplied with water under pressure through the member A, most of this water will pass straight downwardly through the nozzle 3, the Venturi restriction lg, and thence from the breaker to the fixture served thereby. Part of the flushing water,, however, will pass radially outwardly through the annulus between the lip 2b of the sleeve 2 and the peripheral extremity of the upper part 3b of the nozzle, thence downwardly between nozzle and sleeve, thence through the openings id in the nozzle flange part 3m, thence downwardly about the cylindrical nozzle portion 3c immediately therebelow rejoining the water of the main stream, and passing with the latter through the Venturi restriction lg. It will be apparent that the lip 2b will prevent particles drawn into the vent openings I e of the breaker during the normal flushing operation.

Should a high vacuum occur in the supply line, during a flushing operation, air will be admitted through the vent openings la in the pipe means and thence flow upwardly through the described auxiliary passage breaking the vacuum in the supply line. Meanwhile the inertia oLthe main stream within and below the nozzle will empty the liquid in the breaker, into the fixture.

It will be apparent that a fine adjustment of the auxiliary stream may be had by rotating the nozzle upon its mounting threads in the sleeve 2 by means oi the pins 3e and thus adjusting the longitudinal dimension of the restricting annulus immediately beneath the lip 2b of the sleeve. For such adjustment the skirt If is unscrewed from its threads upon the pipe head part lb and lowered to permit access to the Venturi openings le and therethrough to the pins 32.

It will be noted that the action of the auxiliary stream is clearly observable during the adjustment. And hence the proper adjustment for the given operating conditions is easily accomplished.

Should it be desired to change the capacity or general characteristics of the breaker to suit other conditions, upon disconnecting the breaker from its inlet member A, the assembly of nozzle and sleeve may be removed as a unit simply by lifting from the pipe means.

What I claim is:

. 1. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, and nozzle means disposed within said pipe means to provide a main passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage in parallel relation to said main passage and distributed thereabout, said pipe means having vent means for said auxiliary passage, said pipe means and said nozzle means having annular portions disposed in longitudinally spaced relation, with that of said pipe means overhanging that of said nozzle means, said portions confining said auxiliary passage therebetween, and means providing for adjustment of one oi. said confining portions relative to the other to con-, trol flow through said auxiliary passage.

2. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, and nozzle means disposed within said pipe means to provide a main passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage in parallel relation to said main passage and distributed thereabout, said pipe means having vent means for said auxiliary passage, said pipe means and said nozzle means having annular portions disposed in longitudinally spaced relation, with that of said pipe means overhanging that of said nozzle means, said portions confining said auxiliary passage therebetween, and threaded parts arranged to be effective to provide relative longitudinal adjustment between said confining portions, to control flow through said auxiliary passage.

3. A vacuum breaker adapted to be'disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, and nozzle means disposed within said pipe means to provide a main passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage in parallel relation to said main passage and distributed thereabout, said pipe means having vent means for said auxiliary passage, said'pipe means and said nozzle means having annular portions disposed in longitudinally spaced relation, with that of said pipe means overhanging that oi? said nozzle means, said portions confining said auxiliary passage therebetween, and threaded parts arranged to be eiiective to provide longitudinal adjustment of said nozzle means, to control flow through said auxiliary passage.

4. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, a sleeve at the inlet end of said pipe means, nozzle means threadedly mounted in said sleeve to provide a main passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage in parallel relation to said main passage and distributed thereabout, said sleeve and said nozzle means having annular portions disposed in longitudinally spaced relation to confine said auxiliary passage therebetween, said sleeve being mounted at the inlet end of said pipe means to be secured by the inlet connection of said pipe means and to be removable with said nozzle means as a unit, said pipe means having vent means for said auxiliary passage.

5. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, a sleeve at the inlet end of said pipe means, nozzle means threadedly mounted in said sleeve to provide a main passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage in parallel relation to said main passage and distributed thereabout, said sleeve and said nozzle means having annular portions disposed in longitudinally spaced relation with that of said pipe means overhanging that of said nozzle means, to confine said auxiliary passage therebetween, said sleeve being mounted at the inlet end of said pipe means to be secured by the inlet connection of said pipemeans and to be removable with said nozzle means as a unit, said pipe means having vent means for said auxiliary passage.

6. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the. flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, and nozzle means disposed within said pipe means to provide a main passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage in parallel relation to said main passage and distributed thereabout, said pipe means having vent means for said auxiliary passage, a Venturi restriction disposed within said pipe means to be cooperative with said nozzle to assist flow in the auxiliary stream provided by said auxiliary passage, said pipe means having a downwardly convergent portion and said Venturi restriction seating within said portion.

HENRY J. LUFF. 

